And the greatest shorebird show in the Middle East, complete with Crab Plovers

All in a country with a long coastline, deserts with spectacular sand dunes and date palm groves, and the highest mountain in
the Middle East

Grey Hypocolius is regular in very low numbers during the northern winter in Oman but to maximize the chances of seeing this species
on a tour to Oman some tour companies combine it with a short visit to Bahrain, Kuwait or the United Arab Emirates (where there is a large but distant
roost near Abu Dhabi - 167 in January 2014 for example). At the same time of year it is also possible to see this unique species in
Western India.

Mammals(Long-beaked) Common, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose and Spinner Dolphins. Also a chance of Humpback and Bryde’s Whales,
and Ruppell's Fox.

ReptilesFive species of turtle occur in Oman waters but the most likely ones to be seen are Green and Hawksbill Turtles,
and these can be seen on their nesting beaches at Ras Al Hadd/Ras Al Jinz where there is a
Scientific and Visitors Centre, complete with accommodation. The best times of the
year are March-April for seeing Hawksbill hatchlings and June-August to see Green Turtles laying eggs.

Fish
Oman’s waters support rich coral reefs and plankton blooms attract Whale Sharks between June and October, especially in the Daymaniyat and Musandam
Islands.

Other Natural Wonders in Oman

Tawi Attair, Dhofar
The world’s second-largest sinkhole, which is 130-150 m (430-500 ft) across and 210 m (690 ft) deep. It also happens to be the only site in Oman for
Yemen Serin.

Barr al Hikman including Masirah Island Hundreds of thousands of shorebirds during the northern winter including Crab
Plover, Great Knot, and Broad-billed and Terek Sandpipers, as well as other waterbirds such as Greater Flamingo, passage migrants and rarities.

Muntasar A chance of Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse, Desert Warbler and Grey Hypocolius.

Qatbit (Qit-bit) A chance of Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse, Hoopoe Lark, Desert and Menetries’s Warblers, Grey Hypocolius
and falls of passage migrants in season, as well as Ruppell's Fox.

Tawi Attair Bonelli’s Eagle and Yemen Serin. Also a chance of Striolated Bunting.

Pelagic Boat Trips out of Ras Mirbat, Salalah Jouanin's Petrel and Persian Shearwater. Also a chance of Flesh-footed
Shearwater and Bridled Tern.

Best Times for Birds and other wildlife in Oman

Summer temperatures in the interior desert can reach 130°F (54°C) so the best time to visit is between October and April when temperatures and
humidity are lower, especially November to February for birds, although Sooty Falcons are usually only present until the end of October-early November
during this period. The best time of year for seeing turtles laying their eggs on the beaches is July to September. Rainfall is usually irregular and
light except in Dhofar Province in the southwest which lies within the reach of the Indian Ocean monsoon between June and September.

Recommended Bird Books etc. for Oman

Birds of Oman by J Eriksen and R Porter. Helm, due 2017.

Birds of the Middle East by R Porter and S Aspinall. Helm, 2010 (Second Edition).

Mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by S Aulagnier et al. Helm, 2009.

Mammals of Britain and Europe by D McDonald and P Barrett. Collins, 2005.

Apps etc.

eGuide to Birds of the Middle East.

Collins Bird Guide.

Where to watch birds in Asia by N Wheatley. Helm, 1996.

Don’t know which country/countries/regions to visit in the Middle East and Asia? Then it may be worth considering
taking a look at this book, written by this website’s author. It is many years old of course but it still provides a starting point, an overview
and a guiding light to the best birds and the best places to look for them in the region, and could save hours of searching for similar
information on the internet. However, it is important to check more up-to-date sources for sites which have been opened up, sites and species
which have been discovered, lodges that have been built etc. since the book was published.

Birding and Wildlife Trip Reports for Oman

Many trip reports, some for Oman, are posted on the websites listed here. On some of
these websites some reports are independent and some are posted by tour companies who organize
tours to Oman. These tour companies and others also post their own reports on their
websites, which are listed under 'Some Organized Tours to Oman' below.

Local bird and wildlife guides in Oman

The costs of organized tours partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders.
Some leaders are certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are
the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional
skills of the local guides they employ. If you are travelling independently,
employing such local guides will greatly increase your chances of seeing the
wildlife you wish to see.

Accommodation for birders in Oman

Some Organized Tours for birds and other wildlife to Oman

There are many tour companies who organize tours to see mammals, birds, other
wildlife and other natural wonders. The cost of these tours vary considerably
according to such variables as the airlines used, the number of days the tours
last, the number of sites visited, the number of people in the group (an
important consideration if you wish to see such wildlife as rainforest mammals
and birds), the number of tour leaders, the standard of accommodation and
transport, and the percentage profit the company hopes to make. Generally, where
the number of days tours last and the number of sites visited are similar, the
cheapest tours are those that use the cheapest airlines, accommodation and local
transport, that have the largest groups with the least number of leaders, and
that make the least amount of profit. The most expensive tours tend to be those
which are exceptionally long, use the most expensive accommodation (ridiculously
lavish in some cases, even for single nights) and which make the most profit.
Some tour costs partly reflect the quality of the tour leaders. Some leaders are
certainly better than others and many companies claim their leaders are
the best but even the best rely at least to some extent on the exceptional
skills of the local guides they employ.

While tour companies organize tours with set itineraries many also organize custom
tours for individuals and private groups who instead of taking a tour with a set
itinerary want to follow their own itinerary to suit their own personal tastes,
whether it be mammals, birds, other wildlife, other natural wonders or even man-made
attractions, or a mixture of them all. Many organized tours with set itineraries are
also fast-paced and target as many species as possible, whether they are mammals, birds
or other wildlife or everything, which usually leaves little time to enjoy the best
sites and individual species, but on a custom tour those taking part can specify the
pace and the sites and species they wish to concentrate on. Custom tours also suit
people who like to travel with people they already know, rather than with a group of
strangers, and they are popular with people with partners with different interests.
Individuals, partners and small groups will almost certainly have to pay more for a
custom tour than an organized tour with a set itinerary but a large group of friends
may be able to travel for less than the price quoted for a set tour.

Tour companies who run organized tours to Oman include the following.
Many of these also offer custom tours.